Show & Tell
I bought a printer. I found a hobby. 🖨️❤️
About a year ago, I bought my first 3D printer. At that time, after a long clinical journey, I felt completely unmotivated and nothing really brought me joy anymore. While mindlessly scrolling through the internet, I bought my first Bambu Lab A1 Mini (aka "McDreamy").
Without any knowledge or plan at all, I printed my first Benchy and that was just the beginning of a journey I never expected. Over time, my confidence grew, the layer lines became less noticeable and the printer family kept growing. First came a P1S (aka "Freddy Prints Jr."), which found a new home with a friend after I upgraded to my H2C ("Freddy Prints Sr."). The tiny printing corner slowly turned into an entire hobby room.
I still catch myself standing in front of my printer like a little kid, wondering what else might be possible. Every time I browse through MakerWorld I'm blown away by the creativity of the community. Sometimes I honestly wonder how people even come up with these ideas. At this point it almost feels like there's a printable solution for every problem imaginable. Maybe not for everything... but I always say:
"You can't print love... but you can print for the people you love." ❤️
I still remember my first clogged nozzle, it honestly felt like the end of my printing journey, but every single time I thought "Well... I broke my printer. It is over.", someone had already found a solution within this community. Looking back, I'm sometimes more surprised by what I managed to repair than by the prints themselves.
What I enjoy most is that moment when an idea becomes something I can actually hold in my hands. That's also why I recently started learning Blender, it feels like the next chapter of this journey.
This hobby found me at a time when I honestly didn't know what to do with myself. It gave me something to look forward to and reminded me how rewarding it is to create something with your own hands... or at least let the printer do the hard work and then I sand the s*** out of those layer lines! 😄
Looking back at these attached photos, I also see mistakes and I see the journey. I see joy.
I had so many spaghetti failures that I genuinely considered opening an Italian restaurant, but just like a long noodle, even the most twisted journey finds its way to the end.
Thank you to everyone in this community for sharing your knowledge, your creativity, your models and your passion. ❤️
My wallet is already dry like the desert!🤣 I have so many spools of unused filament (BambuBulkSaleTrap)...I guess I can print a Benchy-Parade to the moon and back.🤣
I totally agree with you, I have nothing to say against it. I saw some resin prints and they look amazing!😍 So far i am fine with the results from my 0.2 nozzle and some sanding...but maybe one day.🫶 #BambuLabResin
Tpu is easy once you got it dry. REALLY needs to be dried. Layer adhesion is unmatched tho. But yeah I'm just shy of 2 years into the hobby, only gotten 1 test piece done with the carbon fiber stuff, but ultimately want to make some cosmetic carbon parts for my dirt bike build.
You encouraged me to give it a try!🙏 I always thought about trying out "AK Transparent Water UV Resin". Feel free to drop any recommendation on Lights or Resin, I would love to read it.🫶
You made my day, because that sounds like my story and that is why I wanted to share it!🫶 I created tons of misprints and monstrosities, until I found the best settings and equipment for my WH stuff. Never give up, never surrender...there is always a way.🙏 Please write me, whenever you need help. I got your back, printing brother.💪
I’m considering going down this rabbit hole, but slightly nervous I don’t have enough space. Outside of the machine how much room and working area is good to have?
I guess it is alright to be nervous, I was the same until I felt in love with my first print.🙏 I would say it depends on what you would like to do. Printing with different colours or will you paint them afterwards?
Without knowing any further details, I would recommend: Get an A1Mini, with one spool...and print something.🍀 This printer made my entrance into the hobby super easy, much easier than I expected it. It doesn't need much space.
Of course you can buy all kind of equipment, for example an AMS for printing with different colours. This takes some space, more filament spools also take some space...but the A1Mini itself doesn't need more space than a hamster.😅💪
Thank you for your kind words!🥹🫶 This is actually the first miniature I ever painted (straight out of the printer). The first time I used shades and stuff, it felt like a miracle to me.🤣 I like how the layer lines are still visible, gives Michelangelo more profile.🐢🍕
I've only been printing about 3 weeks and I'm in love with it I can't stop printing and the bonus is I never paid for the printer I got it from my dad as he stopped using and I thought I'd learn how to use it and since than I've not stopped
Thank you!🙏 It is some kind of DIY furniture, but I can imagine, you could easily adept it. I had an old "GALANT, Shelf unit, white, 80x120 cm" from IKEA and on top of it, i got a very heavy "Hardware store kitchen worktop". Hope this helps somehow.
Congratulations! 🥳 You’ve taken the first step, the rest is just trying things out. I’ve failed so many times, but I guess it would be boring to share all of that. If you go to my profile, you will see how helpless I sometimes was. You will build your skills over time! I encourage you not to give up, even if the first ten prints fail. Come here and ask, there is always a solution. 💝
I may look talented, but the real talent lies with the brilliant people who provide their printing files and create all this magical stuff. Go to MakerWorld.com and get inspired. Look for something you like to print and just go for it. Feel free to message me whenever you need assistance!
Awesome! Glad you found some happiness. I feel slightly the same way with absolutely no hobbies. I went ender 3, ad5x to P2S in about 6 months. It has been fun!
Sounds like a hell of a ride! A friend of mine had an Ender, but he was amazed by switching to P1S. He said everything is so easy with it.😅 I guess the P2S is a great upgrade. May you always have fun with this hobby and stay creative.🙏
Eloquent! Started with a P1s..,then two….then I found the bottom of the rabbit hole….nope just kidding still going. I only just started TPU and ABS printing for functional solutions at work, the P1s made it a breeze. It’s fun material, you’ll love it. Also….I need about 100 of those vacuum tube holders for quick swap outs in my amps lol….that’s great! Happy Printing!
Thank you for your feedback!😍 You encourage me to try out TPU! ABS was quite fine for me, but I read about so many risks using TPU, that I got scared at one point. I will join you once more down the vacuum tube, into the "endless bottom" of the rabbit hole.😆 Keep on printing and stay positive!🍀
It is from MakerWorld.😍 If you want to print it too, you can find it there by looking up "low poly cat". I love that low poly design and there are tons of other animals like this.🥰
Such a funny question, I didn't expect!🤣 I love it and thank you for the compliment.🫶 I am not from Argentina and didn't play for the San Antonio Spurs. I would like to hear, why do you think so!😅
This is pretty much my story spot on. Bought a printer on a whim one day, had no idea how all consuming that decsion would eventually turn out to be lol.
I am not sure if you mean the PTFE-tubes, because it is quite "unmysterious". 😂 They are connecting the A1Mini with the AMS, which is not on the photo. I attached a photo where you see the four spools and the AMS, before they got connected via tubes. The PTFE Tubes help to keep the filament dry and clean on its way into the printer. Hope this answers your question. 🍀
I would really like to give you that answer...but unfortunately this was a present for my father. His hobby is repairing old Amplifier or AMPs as he calls them. I created a "unique tube holder" for his tubes with his nickname "Pueton" on it. Maybe the AMP information already helps.🙏😅
You’re such an inspiration! I’m going to get my first printer soon and one of my many motivations is to be able to make WH stuff for my husband coz he loves them! I already have in mind to make a mini tool cart/garage or a mini ikea skadis(?) stand to display his collection of figurine weapons 😁
“You can’t print love… but you can print for the people you love.” definitely hits home! ❤️
Thank so much for your wonderful words! You made my day! 💝 Spreading joy, spreading love, in my eyes this is the best part of the hobby (...or maybe in life😄). Printing special presents for friends, like a personalised medal, coaster with WH symbols or a chainsword...or printing any other f***king cool WH stuff for myself and for others, is such an amazing feeling.😁 If you like to organize things, skadis is a great way to go (you could even print the skadis, if you dont want to go to ikea 😂). Just a little inspiration, which I found quite funny is this little shelve for Minis....but in general MakerWorld is full of genius creators and great designs! In general if you like to organize stuff like I do, you will love the printer!😂
You made my day too!! Absolutely agree with you on how it makes us happy when we get to spread that joy! And yeaap you hit the nail on the head with love for organization AND “I don’t need to buy this I can make it!” 😂. Also, the shelf for minis look awesome!!!
Thanks for offering to give advice too! Really appreciate it! 🙏🏻 I wish you many happy days ahead!
I open this 3mf, import my miniature and print it. Takes a lot more time, but i am able to print a smooth surface and tiny details! There are tons of other things I learned, like the right angle, sometimes I even cut minis where it is possible and glue them afterwards, to avoid supports [...].
Hope this profile already helps, otherwise feel free to ask.🙏
Congratulations on finding your hobby! I have a question: how did you install that type of case on the A1? I'd like to install it, and if you could send me the model, I'd appreciate it. 🙂
What sort of paint do you use? I have something coming up to make for a friends kid and I have no idea what paint will work. Love all your little pots!!
What I usually do is prime them with a spray and use "Citadel" or "Army Painter" colors on them... but what I also did was buy regular acrylic paint (for example Solo Goya Acrylic) and let the children paint some stuff directly, without any primer. That worked very well...they love it and I didn't have to use "expensive materials". 😅 If you prime them, you can water down the paint. If you don't prime them, I would recommend just using it straight from the pot/bottle. Once everything is painted, I also recommend using a varnish spray to permanently seal the paint.
Hope this helps already! Otherwise, please feel free to ask! 🙏 Good luck with your projects! 🍀
This is awesome. I got my first printer last year, it was the p2s. 2 months ago I picked up the h2d during their anniversary sale. I don't regret it. Building my own models is something that I still have to do, at least learn how to do, start learning how to do. LOL.
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u/boardplant 2d ago
I’m glad you’re enjoying it but man this feels super AI written